If you've become a huge act and you're still doing the same music you wrote with your friends when you were making zero dollars, you're lazy.

I just wanted to make a record that wasn't escapism. Like, I didn't want to write another record that was devoid of meaningful content.

What's completely insane to me is that people would consider music that's simple to be dumbed-down. Couldn't simplicity be a deliberate, smart choice?

When I went to school, it was really just to immerse myself in listening to, studying, and making music.

It was never the goal to be a solo performer. It was just something that made the most sense at the time.

I wanted to start working on something that had a lasting effect.